title: Percutaneous kyphoplasty combined with the posterior screw-rod system in treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) have attracted more and more attention due to increase in life span globally and aging population. Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) have been popularized rapidly by virtue of their unique advantage in minimal invasiveness. We analysed our results in osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures using percutaneous kyphoplasty and posterior screw rod system. To investigate the possibility of treatment of rupture of the posterior vertebral osteoporotic fractures by means of kyphoplasty combined with the posterior screw-rod system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty six patients (65 years of age or older) with the single spine fractures included in study. The preoperative bone mineral density was measured by dual-energy X-ray. The PKP was done in all the cases. Decompression was done if neurological symptoms were present.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results demonstrated osteoporosis with BMD T value ≤ -2.5; injured posterior vertebral body (3 cases) had shown the whole damage accompanied by neurological symptoms through X-ray or CT. After 2 days, the remaining patients of back pain symptoms were relieved or disappeared except for three cases of patients with decompression incision. VAS score and Cobb angle changed from preoperative 8.23 ± 0.17 and 28.7 ± 0.33° respectively to postoperative 3.77 ± 0.44 and 3.8 ± 0.2° respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of rupture of the posterior vertebral osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures by means of kyphoplasty combined with posterior screw-rod system is a safe, effective procedure.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Center, Kunming General Hospital of Chengdu Military Command, Kunming - 650 032, China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yong-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Han-Fen
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yong-Yue
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Chong-Tao
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Zhu
keywords: Kyphoplasty; osteoporotic fractures; screw rod system; thoracolumbar fractures